Donald Trump may not know it, but the U.S. presidential front-runner is proving to be a boon for Canadian tourism.
CNN has coined the phenomenon the "Trump bump" — referring to the boost in tourism that Cape Breton, N.S. is hoping for this summer, thanks to anti-Trump sentiment.
It all began with some Americans making noise about moving to Canada if Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, becomes the next president.
It may not translate into actual crowds of Americans relocating up north. But it looks like a lot more may visit thanks to U.S. media jumping on the story and highlighting what Canada has to offer.
Cape Breton, in particular, is basking in the limelight. At the local tourism office, the phone has been ringing off the hook for three weeks.
"We just weren't expecting this, but I say it with a smile," says Mary Tulle, the CEO of Destination Cape Breton
Cape Breton's "Trump bump" began with a tongue-in-cheek website created last month by local radio DJ Rob Calabrese.
Titled Cape Breton If Donald Trump Wins, the site urges Trump refugees to consider moving to the Eastern Canadian island. As an enticement, it highlights the region's beauty, unique culture and cheap real estate.
The site captured the attention of potential American defectors — those outraged with Trump's proposals such as building a wall along the Mexican border and imposing a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US.
Massive American media coverage soon followed. A CNN TV crew even trekked to Cape Breton last week.
A Fox News TV story included snippets from a Cape Breton tourism video, and the reporter declared the island "gorgeous."
The Washington Post described the island as "blessed with tremendous natural beauty, a modicum of cultural diversity and history, and great lobsters."
Tulle says all the attention translates into millions of dollars worth of free publicity.
Related Stories
